Method for shackling live poultry

ABSTRACT

A mechanized method for shackling and handling live poultry is based on mechanically gathering the live fowl on foot at the farm and conveying successive groups of the gathered fowl into shackles in which the live fowl are transported from the farm to the processing plant. At the processing plant, the shackles containing respective groups of fowl are adapted to be releasably supported on the processing conveyor for suspending the fowl during processing. The method for handling live poultry can also be employed with transport vehicles which deliver poultry to the processing plant loose and on foot within the confines of the transport vehicle. In this embodiment, the live poultry are mechanically grouped and conveyed directly from the transport vehicle to the shackles and the loaded shackles with the live fowl are then transferred directly to the plant processing conveyor for processing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of copending application Ser. No.912,726, filed June 5, 1978, entitled "Shackling System and Method ForLive Poultry", now U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,654.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to gathering, shackling and cooping methods forhandling live poultry. More specifically, the present invention relatesto methods for gathering, conveying and shackling live poultry and forhandling and processing the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The traditional way of catching and cooping live poultry for transportto the processing plant is a dirty, undesirable, and labor consumingtask. Catching crews must work during nighttime hours, physically catchthe live poultry, load the poultry into coops, transfer the filled coopsonto a transport vehicle, transport the poultry to the processing plant,remove the coops at the poultry processing plant and finally transferthe live poultry onto shackles and to a processing conveyor for deliveryinto the processing plant.

Prior to applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,192, no attempt had been madeto deliver already shackled live poultry to the processing plant. Whilethis patent teaches a shackle adapted to manual gathering and shacklingat the farm and use of the shackle to suspend the poultry on theprocessing line, it does not teach a mechanical system and method forgathering and conveying the poultry on foot into the shackle. To dat, asfar as applicant is aware, no attempt has been made to provide a systemfor mechanical gathering and shackling of live poultry on foot at thefarm and for delivering mechanically gathered and shackled poultry to aprocessing plant.

U.S. Pat. No. 401,812 teaches the concept of securing chickensindividually in a coop during transit. With this exception, there was noknown coop device which restrained the poultry within the coop duringtransit prior to applicant's issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,192.Furthermore, prior to applicant's U.S. Pat. No. b 3,796,192, there wasno known system for handling poultry based on manually gathering andshackling a group of live poultry in a shackle at the farm, transportingthe poultry in the shackle to the processing plant and suspending thepoultry in the shackle at the plant.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,222,072 is mentioned merely as being illustrative of anearly poultry rack employed for processing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,862 is a poultry system which employs suction forloading a transport vehicle at the farm for delivery to the processingplant.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,103,915; 3,110,388; 3,672,335; 3,722,477; 3,785,349 and3,805,744 are illustrative of various conveying systems for catching andloading poultry.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,742,569; 2,448,421 and 2,594,824 illustrate variousshackle constructions for use on poultry processing conveyor lines.

While the above devices and method are ilustrative of the types ofsystems and shackles available for catching, shackling and handling livepoultry, to applicant's knowledge, no one has ever developed a systemutilizing mechanical means for grouping and shackling live poultry onfoot and in shackles adapted for use during processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Two broad applications of the invention are described. In oneapplication, the invention method utilizes a mechanical gathering,grouping and conveying and shackle guide mechanism and cooperativeshackles. The poultry are directed into the gathering apparatus whichgroups and directs successive groups of plural live fowl on foot to aconveyor which directs the fowl on foot into and moves the live fowl onfoot along the shackle guide mechanism. As the fowl exit the guidemechanism, their limbs are directed into and releasably trapped in areleasably stationed shackle. The shackle holds a plurality of fowl andis adapted to be used both in a coop during transport from the farm tothe processing plant and at the plant, after removal from the coop, isadapted for releasable support on the processing conveyor for suspendingthe fowl during processing.

Another broad application is intended for use when the poultry aregathered and transported loose from the farm to the plant. In thisapplication, the gathering mechanism is also employed and the loose livefowl on foot are conveyed into the shackle guide mechanism for shacklingas with the first embodiment.

Both applications adapt to two different methods of shackling andshackling systems which are illustrated and described. In one suchmethod and shackling system, the shackle is releasably stationed and thefowl are conveyed on foot into the shackle while the shackle isstationary. In the order method, the shackles are effectively moved intoengagement with the limbs of the fowl so that shackling is effectedwhile the shackle is in motion. A variety of shackle constructionssuited to the invention are illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the overall farm-to-plant system ofthe invention when coops containing shackled live poultry are employed.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, of the overallfarm-to-plant system of the invention when the live poultry are loadeddirectly into compartments and transported uncooped, loose and on footin the transport vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mechanized system for gathering,conveying and shackling the live poultry on foot for delivery to theprocessing plant.

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary elevation view of the gathering apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the gating, guiding and shackling portionof the preferred embodiment of the present invention system.

FIG. 5 is a section view taken substantially along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of thegating, guiding and shackling portion of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of the shacklewith the legs of poultry shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the shackleemployed by the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of an alternative form of shackle capable ofbeing employed with the mechanism of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the shackle being shown in an open or receivingposition.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the shackle of FIG. 9 with the shackle ina closed or poultry holding position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of themechanized system for gathering, conveying and shackling live poultry.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, more detailed, perspective view ofthe gating and shackling, mechanism of the alternative embodimentmechanism with portions thereof broken away for illustrative purposesand with one loaded shackle illustrated.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment shackle employedin the alternative embodiment system with the shackle in an openposition.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the shackle of FIG. 13 with the shackle ina closed, poultry retaining position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 3 and 3A, thepreferred embodiment of the mechanized system for gathering handling andshackling live poultry is generally designated 10. System 10 is intendedto be stationed in an area having the live poultry on foot and iscomposed of gathering mechanism 11, conveying mechanism 12, gatingmechanism 13, leg guide mechanism 14 and shackling mechanism 15.Mechanized system 10, although not so illustrated, is capable of beingmounted on wheels and pulled as a trailer from farm to farm and of beingconstructed for folding into a compact unit for travel.

Gathering mechanism 11 is composed of frame 20, chains 21, drivesprockets 22, axles 23 and pusher bars 24. Gathering mechanism 11, asseen in FIG. 1, is positioned directly in front of the poultry house 25and is located to provide an escape free gathering mechanism once anappropriate side and top covering 26 is provided therefor. The livepoultry are manually directed on foot from within housing 25 intogathering mechanism 11 so that slow moving pusher bars 24 gently contactthe rear of the poultry, separate them into groups, and move them alonga forwardly directed path. Pusher bars 24 are mounted on chains 21 andchains 21 are driven in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS.3 and 3A, by sprockets 22 which are driven by motor 27 through axles 23.Motor 27 is of variable speed and its speed is synchronized with theremaining mechanism to be later discussed. While not shown, the entiremechanism 10 could be stationed within the poultry house and the poultrydriven into the gathering mechanism 11 or the entire mechanism 10 couldbe on wheels and rolled into the poultry house and the poultry gentlydirected into the gathering mechanism 11.

Gathering mechanism 11 groups the live poultry and directs them toelevating conveying mechanism 12. Conveying mechanism 12 is composed offrame 30, endless conveyor belt 31, idler rollers 32, guide bars 33,drive pulley 34 and transverse spacing bars 35. Endless conveyor belt 31is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that as thepoultry are grouped and directed by pusher bars 24 they are gentlyforced onto belt 31 and are moved upward and forward to a predeterminedelevated level at which conveyor belt 31 travels in a plane generallyparallel to the ground surface. Endless conveyor 31 passes beneathgating mechanism 13 and shackling mechanism 15 and provides a continuousmoving support and path for the live poultry to follow. Thepreviously-mentioned side and top covering 36 serves to maintain thepoultry within the confines of the conveying mechanism 12. Endlessconveyor belt 31 is driven by motor 40 which through belt 41 drivespulley 34.

As previously mentioned, conveyor belt 31 passes beneath and clearsgating mechanism 13. Gating mechanism 13 is composed of a structurewhich mounts on sideboards 46, 47, straddles conveyor belt 31 andestablishes four separate gates or stalls 45 through which individualfowl can pass. As best seen in FIG. 3, members of the catching crewdirect the live poultry on foot into the gathering mechanism 11,preferably in groups of fours to which the spacing between bars 24accommodates, from which the poultry can then be mechanically directedand transported on conveyor belt 31 in groups of fours utilizing theconveyor spacer bars 35. As the elevated poultry enter gating mechanism13, spacer bars 35 on belt 31 encourage the poultry to continue forwardalong the same path and a pair of catching crew members are stationedadjacent gating mechanism 13, one on each side thereof, to insure thateach of the fowl is guided into an individual gate 45 defined by theupright barriers 44. Parallel gate rods 48 are fixed at one end tobarriers 44 and at their other end to end board 49 so as to reside in aplane parallel with belt 31 and at a predetermined distance above belt31 to allow free passage of spacer bars 35. Cooperating with andlaterally spaced from gate rods 48 are another set of rods identified asleg positioner rod members 50 which are positioned centrally andforwardly of each of gates 45. Each rod member 50 is substantiallyU-shaped and has a main closed loop portion extending from within andforward of a respective gate 45 and forwardmost leg portions secured toend board 49. Rod members 50 are held in a plane parallel with that ofgate rods 48. End portions 51 (FIG. 6) of rod members 50 angle upwardly.

As each individual live fowl is mechanically directed and conveyed intoone of gates 45 on foot, the trailing U-shaped end portion of thecorresponding poultry leg positioner rod member 50 positions the fowl'slegs and causes them to be spread apart and with the feet of the fowltrapped below the plane of positioner rod members 48 and 50 during whichthe fowl continues to be moved forward on conveyor belt 31. Then, as thefowl moves forward, each confined limb portion is guided betweenadjacent portions of rods 48 and 50 or in the case of the outermost limbportions between portions of rod 50 and one of the sideboards 46 and 47which also act as guides. It may be noted as the limb portions movealong, the feet of the fowl remain trapped by means of rods 48 and 50and until they are guided into and held by the temporarily stationedshackle 55. Using the outermost gate adjacent sideboard 46 forillustration, as a fowl enters this gate 45, it has its legs spread sothat one leg is positioned between sideboard 46 and the adjacent portionof positioner rod member 50. The other leg of the fowl is positionedbetween the opposite portion of this somewhat U-shaped closed loopportion of positioner rod member 50 and the next adjacent gate rod 48.While the fowl is being positioned astraddle one of the positioner rodmembers 50 as described, the conveyor belt 31 continues to move forwardand the appropriate spacer bar 35 encourages forward movement should thefowl attempt to back up.

At this point, the poultry are being positioned, guided, and conveyed onfoot and are approaching the shackling mechanism 15. A poultry shackle55, in the preferred embodiment, is held in position at a shacklingstation by a member of the catching crew as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6.Alternatively, suitable means such as a releasable catch, releasableclamp, or the like, may be provided to releasably secure shackle 55 atthe shackling station. In either case shackle 55 is appropriatelypositioned and its securing means oriented to receive and releasablysecure the limbs of the poultry as they are guided into the shackle.

In order to insure that the poultry continue to move toward shackle 55,a leg guide mechanism 14 is employed which contacts the rear of thefowl's legs and urges them forward into shackle 55 as illustrated byFIGS. 5 and 6. Leg guide mechanism 14 has frame or upright members 60,pulleys 61, axles 62, drive belts 63, guide supports 64, guide bars 65,leg guide fingers 66 and drive pulley 67 which is driven by motor 40through belt 41. Leg guide mechanism 14 and shackling mechanism 15 areenclosed by an appropriate top and side cover 68.

As viewed in FIG. 5, leg guide mechanism 14 is driven in acounter-clockwise direction so that guide fingers 66 are positioneddirectly behind the legs of the poultry and so that each guide bar 65moves along just above gate rods 48 and leg positioner members 50. Thelegs of the individual fowl are in effect forced forward by conveyorbelt 31 and guide bar 65 until the legs of the poultry are forced intoshackle 55 by guide fingers 66.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 most clearly illustrate the structure of shackle 55of the preferred embodiment and is adapted to be held in position at theshackling station by one of the catching crew as seen in FIG. 3. Aspreviously mentioned, a suitable catch, releasable clamp or other means,could be employed to releasably secure the shackle properly oriented andtemporarily fixed in position during the shackling operation. In theembodiment being described, shackle 55 consists of a channel bar 70,integral fixed hanging members 71, integral fixed guiding and alignmentrods 72, pivotal leg engaging members 73, pivot pins 74, integral rod 75and spring members 76. When in use at the shackling station, the hangingmembers 71 rest on sideboards 46, 47; bar 70 rests on end board 49 andshackle 55 is generally oriented for receiving live poultry therein.Alignment bars 72 are integrally secured to bar 70 and during shacklingare oriented to extend outwardly in the direction from which the poultryare received and are adapted to be positioned so as to be aligned withgate rods 48. Pivotal leg engaging members 73 are also oriented duringshackling to extend outwardly in the direction from which the poultryare received and, thus, are placed in position for receiving limbportions of the poultry as they are forced forward by the respectiveguide bars 65 and leg guide fingers 66.

As the poultry legs enter shackle 55, engaging members 73 pivot open,the legs enter and members 73 pivot closed due to the force of springs76 pushing against members 73. FIG. 7 illustrates the position of thefeet and secured legs of the loaded poultry within shackle 55. As thelegs of one group of poultry are pushed into a shackle 55, the leg guidemechanism 14 continues to rotate and a succeeding guide bar engages asucceeding group of poultry and begins to urge such poultry forward.While these new poultry are being moved into shackling position at theshackling station, a member of the catching crew removes the loadedshackle 55 and places it in an open top coop 80 located adjacent theshackling area. Coop 80 receives the loaded shackle 55 and is designedto receive a predetermined number of such loaded shackles. Coop 80 ispreferably equipped with integral breast support bars, not shown, to aidin reduction of bruising of the poultry during transport. No top isneeded on the coop as the poultry are maintained within shackles 55 andcan be upright in transit as shown.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative form of poultry shackle 90.Shackle 90 consists of body portion 91, integral hanging members 92,integral alignment tabs 93, sliding leg engaging wire 94 and wire guidepins 95. Members 92 in use rest on sideboards 46, 47 and alignment tabs93 align with gate rods 48. FIG. 9 illustrates shackle 90 in an openposition and FIG. 10 illustrates shackle 90 in a closed positiondesigned to trap the limb portions of the poultry therein.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, thedescription will now further explain the method of operation inreference to FIG. 1. In such preferred form of operation, the mechanizedsystem for handling live poultry is utilized at the farm. Prior to use,the gathering mechanism is positioned at a fixed location in the doorwayof the poultry house or when appropriate within the poultry houseitself. A member of the catching crew is stationed within the house anddirects the live poultry into the gathering mechanism. The poultry aredirected and moved forward by gathering mechanism 11 and are thenconveyed upwardly from floor level by conveying mechanism 12 to a higherlevel. As previously mentioned, the poultry in the embodimentillustrated are preferably mechanically gathered, moved, guided andshackled in groups of four. Each such group of poultry is moved andguided through the gating mechanism and into the area of the leg guidemechanism. At this point, the paired legs of the poultry are entrappedin a shackle, either shackle 55 or 90, in a side-by-side array. Theloaded shackle is placed within a coop and once the coop is filled, thecoop is transferred to a transport vehicle for delivery to theprocessing plant. Once at the processing plant, each coop is removed andeach loaded shackle with its group of fowl is removed from the coop.Each loaded shackle is then mounted directly on a conveyor from whichthe poultry are suspended on the shackle during processing. Once thepoultry are processed and the limb portions removed, the shackles arereturned to the coop and are ready for reuse.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the preferred embodiment of the invention systemis used with transport vehicles which receive and transport poultryloose, on foot and uncooped. The transport vehicle of FIG. 2 may, forexample, have its load receiving area divided into three layers witheach layer capable of receiving poultry on foot, loose, and uncooped fordelivery to the processing plant. In this type of operation, themechanized system of the invention for handling the live poultry islocated at the loading dock of the processing plant as illustrated. Oncethe filled transport vehicle reaches the processing plant, gatheringmechanism 11 is moved into position and the poultry are directed intothe gathering mechanism. The gathering mechanism groups and moves thepoultry forward to be conveyed upwardly on the conveying mechanism.Alternatively, the vehicle unloading platform and the conveyingmechanism can be arranged at levels allowing the poultry to be conveyedon an essentially horizontal plane to the gating mechanism. In eithercase, successive groups of the gathered fowl are directed into thegating mechanism and with the aid of the leg guide mechanism aredirected into appropriate shackles, either shackle 55 or 90,successively placed at the shackling station. Once the poultry areshackled, the loaded shackles are hung directly on the conveyingmechanism for delivery into the processing area. Once the poultry areprocessed and the shackles unloaded, the shackless are returned to theshackling area for reuse.

An alternative mechanized system for gathering, handling and shacklinglive poultry according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and12 and is generally designated 10'.

System 10' is somewhat similar to system 10 of the preferred embodimentin that it has an identical gathering mechanism 11' and conveyingmechanism 12'. Gating mechanism 13' is similar to gating mechanism 13but differs in some ways to be discussed later in the description.Upright frame members 60' mount sprockets 61' and axles 62'. Axles 62'are rotatably mounted in members 60' and sprockets 61' are fixedlymounted on axles 62'. Drive chains 63' are received by mating sprockets61' and drive sprockets 61' in a synchronized manner. A pair of supportbars 100 are mounted on axles 62' with appropriate bearings and arrangedin a manner that allows axles 62' to rotate therein but maintain bars100 in a fixed position widthwise. A pair of hanger rods 101 aresuspended in a fixed position from bars 100 and mount in a fixed mannera gate bar 102. Gate bar 102 mounts in a fixed manner gating mechanism13' of the alternative system (see FIG. 12). Gating mechanism 13'straddles and clears conveyor belt 31' which in this embodiment issomewhat shorter in length than is previously-mentioned belt 31. Gatingmechanism 13' divides the area above belt 31' into four separate gatesor stalls 45'.

As best seen in FIG. 11, members of the catching crew, with the aid ofconveyor belt 31', direct the live poultry on foot into the gatingmechanism 13'. Each individual gate 45' is defined by upright barriers44'. Leg positioner rod members 50' are integrally secured to andpositioned between barriers 44' of each of gates 45'. Each rod member50' is substantially W-shaped and has a main closed central portionlocated within and extending in alignment with each respective gate 45'with the outermost leg portions secured to the base of each uprightbarrier 44'.

As each individual fowl is directed and conveyed into one of gates 45'on foot, the corresponding poultry leg positioner rod member 50'positions the fowl's legs and causes them to be spread apart and withthe feet of the fowl trapped below the plane of the respectivepositioner rod member 50'. While the fowl is being positioned astraddlethe respective positioner rod member 50', the conveyor belt 31'continues to move forward and the appropriate spacer bar 35' encouragesforward movement should the fowl attempt to back up. As can be readilyseen, each fowl travels only a relatively short distance once it entersthe respective leg positioner rod member 50' and respective gate 45'.

At this point of travel, the poultry are ready for shackling byshackling mechanism 15'. In this embodiment, the shackling of poultrytakes place while the poultry are within the respective gates 45'.Supports 64' and bars 65' are integrally secured on drive chains 63' asin the preferred embodiment. However, drive chains 63' are driven in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12 rather than in acounter-clockwise direction as in the first embodiment. This isaccomplished by appropriate positioning of belt 41' which is driven bymotor 40'. Bars 65' have shackle receiving brackets 105 which areadapted to hold and releasably and thightly clamp a shackle 125 such asillustrated in FIGS. 13-15. Shackle 125 is placed in brackets 105 and issecurely held in place by the clamping action of brackets 105 and sothat as each shackle 125 approaches gates 45' the poultry receiving endof the shackle 125 is facing the poultry. Shackle 125, mounted on bar65', moves forward toward gates 45' in a plane parallel with butslightly above conveyor belt 31' and beneath leg positioner members 50'.Shackle 125 approaches gates 45' and in an open position and as thepoultry legs are positioned in shackle 125, means is provided forautomatically closing the appropriate shackle members about the legs ofthe poultry.

Shackle 125 and its closing means are illustrated in FIGS. 13-14.Shackle 125 is very similar in construction to shackle 90 illustrated inFIGS. 9-10. However, unlike shackle 90 which was illustrated as beingadapted for being closed about the poultry's legs by manually pulling ahand rod to close leg engaging wires 94 around the legs of the poultry,shackle 125 is designed to be automatically closed about the legs of thepoultry. Shackle 125 consists of a multiple recessed body portion 126,integral conveyor hanging members 127, integral alignment tabs 128,sliding leg engaging wires 129, appropriate wire guide pins 130, and ashackle activating rod portion 131.

In operation, shackle 125 is held securely but releasably clamped inbrackets 105 on bar 65' with shackle 125 prepared to receive the poultryin an open position, i.e., with leg engaging wires retracted as seen inFIG. 13, and with shackle activating rod 131 in an outward extendingposition as also seen in FIG. 13. Shackle closing arm 132 extendsoutward from the frame sideboard 47' and, as shackle 125 moves towardthe poultry, arm 132 engages the angled shackle activating rod 131.Then, as shackle 125 continues to move forward, arm 132 forces rod 131inward and in turn closes leg engaging wires 129 about the legs of thepoultry. At the point where the legs of the poultry are in position inshackle 125, arm 132 begins its closing action on rod 131. By the timeshackle 125 reaches the end of gates 45', shackle 125 is closed and thepoultry are trapped. At this time, the poultry in shackle 125 are raisedfrom belt 31' and lifted as chains 63' rotate clockwise on sprockets61'. Once the poultry are held aloft, shackle 125 moves rearward to apoint where an operator removes the loaded shackle 125 and places it ina coop as in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 for delivery to theprocessing plant or an operator may place the loaded shackle 125directly on the processing conveyor for delivery into the processingarea as in FIG. 2. In either application, an unloaded, open shackle 125is installed in brackets 105 to replace the removed loaded shackle 125and the cycle repeats itself. FIG. 12 illustrates one bar 65' passingbelow the gates 45' but without a shackle to simplify the drawing.Another bar 65' is shown above the gates 45' holding four of the loadedfowl, shown in dotted lines, in a shackle.

While not illustrated, the invention contemplates that poultry afterbeing shackled at the farm with the shackling apparatus of the inventionas seen in FIG. 3 or FIG. 11 could be loaded directly into trucksadapted to receive the loaded shackles and thereby eliminate use ofcoops as in FIG. 1. For example, the type of truck shown in FIG. 2 whichordinarily transports poultry loose could be fitted with rails, or thelike, spaced apart and on different levels to receive the poultry intheir shackles. In this embodiment, the shackled poultry would beunloaded directly from the rails and onto the processing conveyor at theplant.

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of shackling uncaged live poultry onfoot preparatory to processing and of handling and processing the sameafter being shackled, comprising the steps:(a) directing the live fowlon foot towards an elongated shackle structure releasably fixed at ashackling station across the path along which the fowl are directed andhaving releasable laterally spaced limb securing means oriented toreceive the limbs of the fowl from the direction in which they aredirected and operative to releasably secure laterally spaced paired limbportions of the fowl on foot in a side-by-side array; (b) loading theshackle structure with a plurality of the fowl on foot and releasablysecured in such side-by-side array by moving the fowl into and relativeto the structure; (c) removing the loaded shackle structure from saidshackling station and transporting such loaded structure to a processingconveyor at a processing plant; and (d) releasably mounting the loadedshackle structure on the conveyor and processing the fowl thereon whilesaid conveyor moves the structure during processing.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said shackle structure is adapted to be moved to an openposition for receiving the limbs of the fowl and to a closed positionfor releasably securing said limbs and including the steps ofmechanically conveying said shackle structure to a gating station withinsaid shackling station and in an open position, mechanically closingsaid shackling structure after loading at said gating station andmechanically conveying said shackling structure away from said gatingstation after loading.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step ofdirecting includes the step of utilizing a mechanical gatheringapparatus and a conveying apparatus to position the fowl into successivegroups and to direct each such group while on foot successively alongsaid path into a said shackle structure at said shackling station. 4.The method of claim 3 including the step of conveying said live fowlwhile on foot and prior to reaching said shackle structure at saidshackling station through elongated limb positioning means residingparallel to the path along which the fowl are directed and designed topair said limb portions in said side-by-side array and to guide thepaired limb portions into said shackle structure.
 5. The method of claim4 including the step of mechanically engaging trailing portions of thefowl while moving along said path to urge the fowl towards saidshackling station.
 6. The method of claim 1 including the step ofrepeating said directing and loading sequence with successive groups offowl being loaded into successively placed shackle structures at theshackling station and transporting groups of plural loaded shacklestructures in transport means designed to receive and transport the sameto the processing plant.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the saidgroups of loaded shackle structures are transported in said transportmeans in a manner enabling the fowl to rest upright in transit.
 8. Themethod of claim 3 wherein said step of directing includes mechanicallydirecting and engaging the fowl while on foot with a plurality of spacedmembers designed to group the fowl and push the fowl onto a conveyingmeans in said path, and conveying the fowl so grouped along said pathinto the shackle structure.
 9. The method of claim 2 including the stepof mechanically removing the loaded shackle from said gating station bymeans of a conveyor apparatus adapted to move through the gating stationwhile releasably grasping the loaded shackle structure and convey itaway from the gating station for other handling.
 10. The method ofhandling live poultry at the farm, in transport and preparatory to andin processing comprising the steps of:(a) collecting the poultry at thefarm and transporting the collected poultry loose and on foot intransport confining means to the processing plant; and (b) at theprocessing plant:(i) directing the live fowl on foot towards anelongated shackle structure releasably fixed at a shackling stationacross the path along which the fowl are directed and having releasablylaterally spaced limb securing means oriented to receive the limbs ofthe fowl from the direction in which they are directed and operative toreleasably secure laterally-spaced paired limb portions of the fowl onfoot in a side-by-side array; (ii) loading the shackle structure with aplurality of the fowl on foot and releasably secured in suchside-by-side array by moving the fowl into and relative to thestructure; (iii) removing the loaded shackle structure from saidshackling station and transporting such loaded structure to a processingconveyor at a processing plant; and (iv) releasably mounting the loadedshackle structure on the conveyor and processing the fowl thereon whilesaid conveyor moves the structure during processing.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 including the step of mechanically removing the loaded shacklefrom a gating station within the shackling station by means of aconveyor apparatus adapted to move through the gating station whilereleasably grasping the shackle structure and once loaded move theloaded shackle structure from and convey it away from the gating stationfor other handling.